Apologies for being sparse these days, but I’ve been keeping busy with a new project. That said, here’s an amazing 7” from France, private pressing from 1987. Great coldwave sounds on both tracks, gloomy yet driving- the perfect combination. Both tracks are both dark and incredibly catchy, with deep French vocals. Hooks all around, driving drums (edit-thanks for clarifying, Phil). Really, the perfect package.
There’s not much more I can tell you about this band, though I’ve been told that there may be more material out there waiting to be revealed. I shall certainly update this post if and when there’s news or more info to be had! Otherwise, I promise to be more active in the coming weeks…
Thanks to Phil for filling in a few gaps in the comments:
Our group became “In Extremis”. We composed some good songs in the southwest of France (Hossegor) then we separated some years later. I regret it now. Thank you for your compliments. I still have some 45 tours vinyl to me, if somebody is interested.
Sculpteurs D’Ombres- L’Ange Noir 7”
1. L’Ange Noir
2. Later in the Night
A real quick and dirty post here for today- simply because I’ve had little time this week, have had this in the queue for many months, and almost forgot to post it… Here we have an updated copy of the s/t Pavillon 7B LP from 1987, lovingly re-ripped by the one and only BX. A true coldwave classic from Dijon, a small town in the east of France, featuring dark and passionate female vocals and thin, mad-carnival synth lines . One of my favorite LPs, by far- one that seems to get better with each listen. The band also released several cassettes, appeared on many compilations, and issued a collection on Minimal Wave in 2007 which collected many of the band’s earliest works. ‘Black Generation’ was also featured prominently on several compilations, including the excellent Transmission compilation from Infrastition, which I’m sure you’ve all heard by now…
Even if you’re already familiar with this one- you’re in for a treat!
Pavillon 7B- Pavillon 7B LP
1. Black Generation
2. Wish
3. Sensation
4. The Sailor
5. Les Nouveaux Abris
6. Sphere
7. +
8. Love Loser
9. Somebody
While Opera Multi Steel are one of my favorite bands, I’ve never had the chance to feature them here, as most of their material has been reissued or posted elsewhere. However, I realized this particular cassette in 1987 hasn’t been ripped in the past, and aside from two tracks, does not appear on the otherwise excellent K7 Archives collection issued by Vinyl on Demand in 2008.
For those unfamiliar with Opera Multi Steel, the band was founded in 1983 in Bourges, France. Brothers Franck and Patrick Lopez joined Catherine Marie for their first 12” and debut LP, both essentials in the French coldwave/minimal synth scene. They were one of the more prolific bands of the genre, and have released top shelf music constantly without splitting up or reuniting. Two further members would join the band in 1987 and 1988 respectively, just after this tape was released. You can read a more detailed biography here.
Opera Multi Steel – Regret Qui S’Ecaille K7
1. Regret Qui S’Ecaille
2. General Hospital
3. Désir Plaisir Après Tristesse
4. Lady Du Sentier De Loosy
5. Messager Monotone
6. Poisson D’Argent
7. Mon Permis De Conduire
8. Mawata
It was difficult to choose the final post for 2012, somehow this particular 12” seems more holiday appropriate, in a morbid sort of way. Now that I think of it, this band is the perfect soundtrack for the end of the world, due this Friday if all goes according to plan.
I’m sure Sixth Comm are no strangers to readers of this blog, as the band was an outlet for Death In June vocalist/percussionist Patrick Leagas, who abruptly left the band in 1985. Leagas (aka Patrick O’Kill) was the primary force behind the Death In June’s interest in synth/dance-oriented music, and often re-recorded classic DIJ tracks under the Sixth Comm moniker (it may be sacrilege to most, but the DJ in me has a strong preference for Sixth Comm’s version of “Calling“). The first few Sixth Comm LPs (most of which have been released on iTunes and can be found on LP for modest prices) continue in this vein, mixing dark, beat-heavy electronics and Norse-inspired mysticism.
I originally purchased this 12” for a non-picture disc version of “Othilia” to DJ at the Wierd party, but much to my surprise, I found the version here to be different than the recording that appears on Morthogenisis. The more well known version of the track clocks in at the same length, though is a more straightforward run through of the song. The other two tracks on this 12” appear on Morthogenisis, seemingly unchanged. The alternate version of “Othilia” is worth the price of admission alone, so hopefully even the biggest DIJ fan can find something new to enjoy.
Sixth Comm- The Taste For Flesh 12”
1. Othilia
2. Neiflheim
3. Swan Death
On that note, I just wanted to thank everyone for sticking around during a rather tumultuous year. It’s been five years and counting, and it’s been a pleasure sharing this music with you. If we all make it to 2013, here’s hoping for an even better year ahead! Best to you and yours.
I think the internet police have spoken and it’s time to call it a day here at Systems of Romance. I’ve been pretty zen about the whole thing thus far, as it’s been five years and over 500 posts- certainly nothing to balk at. However, I do have a few more posts I’d like to share with you all before wrapping up here. Please pardon the sudden change in file sharing sites. Hopefully these links last long enough for everyone to enjoy them!
Here we have two incredibly rare 7”s for the price of one (hah). Both of these records have been in my wantlist for ages, and it’s taken me some time to track them both down properly. Patience has never been my strongest suit, but it certainly paid off here, as both of these 7”s were worth the thrill of the hunt and have quickly become two of my most cherished records in my entire collection.
Some of you may recall the Jus Dorange a-side from an early VA compilation. Many thanks to Sean McBride, AKA Martial Canterel, for cluing me into that track a few years ago via Youtube, as it’s haunted my dreams ever since. As expected, the flip is just as stellar, sitting nicely alongside Lè Travo, The Names, Aimless Device, & Siglo XX at the top of the Belgian coldwave crop. Two perfectly vicious tracks that demand repeat listening. It’s worthwhile to note that Dries Decocker was also active in The Misz, who released several cassette tapes and have been compiled on the excellent Underground Belgian Wave Vol. 2 compilation on Walhalla Records.
The second single is a more recent, but no less rare obsession. Red Rain Coat were from Switzerland, and while they were more well known for their early 90s foray into more guitar-pop turf, their first 7” is another cold masterpiece of its era. Their story parallels Eskimos & Egypt, whose debut 7”, while having little in common with their other releases, is a bona-fide classic.
Jus Dorange- At Night 7” (1983)
1. At Night
2. Watching
Since it seems like all links for the original Unreleased cassette are dead in the water or at a very low bit rate, here’s a fresh 320 kbps, fresh from the cassette! This one is arguably the most orthodox of the series, featuring several “household names” from the French coldwave/touching pop scene, many making their first or second recorded appearance here. Every band here hails from France, with the exception of The Cultural Decay (Belgium), and a rare track from Factory darlings Section 25.
Interesting how each of these compilations appear on a different medium, huh? I wonder if a fourth compilation will ever surface on 8 track…
Various Artists- Unreleased Volume 1 K7
1. Section 25– Human Puppets
2. Asylum Party– Where Have You Gone My Friend?
3. Brigade Internationale– Memories And Break
4. Clair Obscur– Wreck
5. Mary Goes Round– The Shelter
6. Odessa– Trouble
7. Brigade Internationale– Silence Of My Brain
8. Orchestre Rouge– 1980
9. Art Remains Tangible– Numéro 32
10 Little Nemo– Future Is Now
11. Norma Loy– Ghost Parasites
12. Brigade Internationale– Eyes On The Volcano
13. Complot Bronswick– Panem And Circences
14. The Cultural Decay– I Never Loved You
I’m pleased to offer the first Samedi 7”, a true Swedish synth masterpiece. You may have heard the a-side on the Retronics compilation, chock full of similar gems. I also posted their 1989 full length almost two years ago. However, the b-side to this 7” has remained unheard until now, and is a nice, short and energetic synthpop track that should please quite a few ears.
Without any further ado, here’s the info:
Samedi- Between Two Hearts 7”
1. Between Two Hearts
2. World
I’ve been meaning to post this LP for months now, don’t know why it’s taken me so long. Up on the slab is the lone LP by Claude Raines, a US based guitar-driven post-punk band from Rochester, NY. Rochester must’ve been a great breeding ground for awesome, underrated post-punk, between this LP and of course, Eleven Pond. In fact, Cedric Herrera, vocalist for this band, was also the singer of Red Violet Red, the band that preceded Eleven Pond!
The closest touchstones for this 1987 LP include The Church, The Chameleons, Psychedelic Furs, and The Snake Corps, complete with the big guitar driven sound of all those bands. Perhaps a bit of a R.E.M./Grapes of Wrath vibe as well, just a bit heavier than either of those bands tend to run. According to the band’s Myspace page, run by an official member, they are hoping for a reissue and are looking for interested parties or labels who could make it happen. Hopefully this post here can bring this excellent LP to more widespread attention. Feel free to reach out to the band!
Claude Raines- Claude Raines LP
1. All Of The Days
2. No Talk
3. Stumbling Hard
4. Looking Around (Acoustic Mix)
5. Moving Through The Fields
6. Dancing
7. Looking Around
8. Going Under
Here’s the full 12” discography of DADA, another new wave band from New York City. Contained within are both of their releases, both which walk a fine line between catchy minimal synth and bouncy synthpop.
The first 12” was discovered whilst record shopping with Goutroy, who recently relocated to NYC via San Francisco. I randomly ran into him at a lesser record store, after a rather unceremonious trip home. A little solo shopping therapy turned into an afternoon of bin-hopping around the village. Sometimes I shop with the intention of looking for things I know, love, and plan to DJ. Other times, an interesting cover or title catches my attention, which is how I find most of the records posted here. However, this record was plucked out by Goutroy at one of my favorite shops in the East Village, a place that keeps odd hours and specializes in new wave. After one brief listen (he had placed this record in the “maybe” pile), I quickly became obsessed (perhaps annoyingly so) with his purchase, and quickly hunted down a copy of my own, and we’ve both been spinning it regularly at the Wierd party since. Camaraderie at its finest! That’s not to say there wasn’t a bit of competitive edge between us that day, as there tends to be when two underground music collectors hunt in the same shop at the same time. I feel like I paid more attention to what he had in his stack as opposed to the bins in front of me. He found R.E.K.’s excellent 12” (found here at Crispy Nuggets) and I seethed with jealousy. That said, we both found each other some excellent gems, and both walked away with some hefty purchases that day. The rest, you can say, was nerd history.
I was able to snag the second 12” online for a relatively cheap price, and while I prefer the first release overall (especially the amazing a-side), the two sound very similar. Not surprising, given that they were released only one year apart. The band seemed to have a sense of humor, from their vocal delivery, lyrical content, and even the record label (presumably self-released under “A Major Recording Label,” whose only releases are these two records). The band members even all shared the same last name, though they may very well be brothers. Slight tongue-in-cheek humor aside, these tracks are perfectly suited for a dancefloor, and are some of my favorite obscure gems.
Speaking of that sense of collector camaraderie, you can also find this same post over at Goutroy’s awesome Viable Commercial blog, back up and running after a brief hiatus! Same rips, two blogs, at the SAME TIME for maximum listening pleasure! Here’s the info:
DADA- Age of Confusion 12” (1987)
1. Age of Confusion
2. Pursuits of Happiness
DADA- Right Men Tell Lies 12” (1988)
1. Discussing Missile Size
2. As the Sun Races By
3. Separate Ways****
4. The World They Left Behind
Apologies in advance for flooding your hard drives with music, folks. Two posts in store for today- mostly because I promised some Wierd party attendees I’d drop these records immediately for download!
First, we have some killer French synth pop, highly reminiscent of Depeche Mode with some slight italo leanings. This single was released on CBS Records in 1987 and was a minor hit in the European club scene. This track also features the legendary Desireless (aka Claudie Fritsch-Mentrop) on backing vocals, hot off the heels of her own club hit. You have four mixes to choose from here, two extended 12” mixes, the lean single mix (my preferred version), and a spaced out instrumental version, which despite the title, has masked/processed vocals throughout. Think of it more like a dub mix than an instrumental…
Entre2mers released a follow up single, “Marine” in 1989 with bigger, almost Belgian-style grooves and orchestra hits. I’ve included the extended 12” mix here (sorry, don’t own this single or have the single mix digitally) as a bonus. Enjoy!
Systems of Romance was created in mid-2007 to serve as a dumping grounds for all great things coldwave, minimal synth, post-punk, synthpunk, industrial, synthpop, and various other combinations of these styles. Feel free to make requests, noodle around, and discuss all you like...
Otherwise, this blog is dedicated to showcasing material that has long since been out of print. If you are aware of any of these items being readily available from the artist or label, or take issue with these tracks being uploaded, please let me know so I can amend the post or remove the links.
